THE Darwin Festival will focus on local talent with splashes of national and international acts.

Singer Songwriter Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.Source: News Limited

The NT News can reveal exclusively that this year’s dry season festival will be headlined by Elcho Island’s Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu who will perform his first Darwin show in years backed by a full orchestra at the Gardens Amphitheatre.

Gurrumul will take to the stage with the Camerata of St John’s Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra and members of his family.

Darwin Festival artistic director Edwina Lunn said she had been looking to get Gurrumul to perform for years.

“That’s the most exciting thing we’ve achieved this year,” she said.

“It’s really marvellous when a performer knocks on your door.”

Also on this year’s line up will be comedy from funnymen such as Frank Woodley and Ronny Chieng and gigs from the likes of former Magic Dirt frontwoman Adalita and up and comer Courtney Barnett.

“It’s always important to incorporate high quality comedy, we’re going to bring a few laughs to the Lighthouse; we love to make sure we have a contemporary music program.”

For theatre-goers two highlights will include Shadow King and Sugarland.

Shadow King is an adaptation of the Shakepearian play King Lear and brings together NT performers such as Tom E Lewis, Jimi Bani (Mabo), Frances Djulibing (Ten Canoes) along with Bart Willoughby from Yothu Yindi.

Sugarland is a production from the writer’s of The Sapphires and composer of the Barunga Festival.

Ms Lunn said the production was one of many connections the festival will have with Katherine.

These acts join an already-announced list which includes Tina Arena and Dan Sultan.

The theme for 2014 will be 100% Darwin, a concept by German creatives Rimini Protokoll which has been used for Seoul, Tokyo and London.

“Anything done called 100% Darwin would be so different from anywhere else ... I knew it’d be remarkable if we did it in Darwin,

“It’s a true snapshot of what Darwin is right now.”

The Choir of Men, David Spy, The Moral High Ground with the Roots Ensemble, ATYP’s Sugarland, Tim Parish, Conor Fox, Matt Cornell, Nick Power and Tracks Dance will also appear at the Festival.

This Territory Life will makea return, as well as Nightcliff Pool Party, and a Backyards event at Territory Wildlife Park.

Contact Inc’s Walking Neighbourhoods tours will also make a return.

The Lediopters, Wedhus Gembel, Snuff Puppets, will also feature in the festival.

Special events this year will include iconic singer Tina Arena, the annual National Indigenous Music Awards with an appearance by Dan Sultan.

Courtney Barnett, Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Steve Smyth, Harry Manx, SEEKAE, All Our Exes Live in Texas and Bobby Alu will also make appearances in the festival.

Comments on this story

Kelly of Darwin Posted at 4:26 PM June 26, 2014

What a load of rubbish. I wouldnt let these bunch of clowns play at a dog's BBQ - let alone the Darwin Festival. If the aim is to discredit this festival so badly that people leave in droves, and the organisers go broke and the whole thing gets cancelled in the future, then keep going down this road.

Rachel of Darwin Posted at 7:57 AM June 26, 2014

This is really disappointing. Last year there was a general consensus among my friends about the lack of acts from out of darwin. When you can see local acts all year, you want something different for the festival. Last year I and my friends, for the first time ever didn't attend the festival, I guess we won't be going this year either. Edwina, I would have thought you'd have learnt your lesson after the "debacle" down south. Very disappointing.

Daskong of Darwin Posted at 9:22 PM June 25, 2014

Excited about a couple of the events - Saskwatch and Adalita- but the rest is rubbish. Why do they keep passing off trips into Bagot community as events? Is it to make the do gooders feel better about themselves? Go there outside of the festival and get a dose of 'Bagot culture'.